But doing so required upgrading the kitchen, reconfiguring the computer ordering system and making several electrical and plumbing improvements, as well as other renovations.

"It's a lot of stuff our customers wouldn't see, behind the scenes," Kounoupis said. "But we're as prepared as we possibly can be."

The new restaurant seats 275 people and includes the same type of food and service that patrons enjoy in Bethlehem, including hash brown potatoes, freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee made from beans ground right in the eatery.

"We needed to set up an area in which we can do our beverages so that customers can see exactly how everything is made," Kounoupis said. "We didn't want to do anything behind the scenes from them, so to speak. We wanted whatever we did to be right in their face."

Sangria closed in July after about three years of operation. George Miereles, whose past restaurant credits include Easton landmarks River Grille and Ocean, had opened it with help from a $350,000 state revitalization grant.

Kounoupis had long sought to establish an Allentown location but previously said he never found the right spot until this one.

"We're very excited to be in Allentown," he said. "It seems like Allentown is excited to have us open our place, so we have a little bit of pressure on us."

The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The staff includes a "completely new team" because Kounoupis said he did not want to disrupt service at the Bethlehem diner.

"We started out from scratch, so to say," he said.

Kounoupis said he expects to do several special events but wants to get through the restaurant opening first.

"We have a lot of super-cool special things we are planning to do, but first, we need to make sure everyone is comfortable with the actual flow of where everything is," he said.